Blake Gillikin Bio
Blake Thomas Gillikin (born January 21, 1998) is an American professional football punter for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Penn State Nittany Lions and enters the 2025 season as one of the most consistent directional punters in the league. Standing 6 ft 2 in and listed at 196 lb, Gillikin has built his reputation on precision placement and a powerful right leg.
Early Life and Background
Blake Thomas Gillikin was born on January 21, 1998, in Atlanta, Georgia. He grew up in nearby Smyrna, Georgia, where he attended The Westminster Schools in Atlanta. As a prep specialist, Gillikin distinguished himself early, earning five-star ratings as both a punter and a kicker from Kohl’s Kicking Camp.
In 2015, Gillikin helped lead Westminster to its first GHSA Football Class AAA Georgia State Championship since 1978, cementing his status as one of the top high school specialists in the country. His combination of hang time, distance, and poise under pressure drew scholarship offers from multiple college football programs. He ultimately committed to Penn State, where he would develop into a four-year starter.
Path to American Football
Gillikin’s path to the NFL began on the fields of Smyrna and Atlanta, where his prep career showcased a rare ability to flip field position. The 2015 state championship run gave him a championship pedigree before he ever reached college, and his five-star ranking helped him earn an early opportunity at a Big Ten program. At Penn State, he was thrown directly into competition as a freshman and immediately contributed on field goal block units and as a punter.
Across his four seasons in State College, Gillikin built a reputation for directional punting and coffin-corner placement, skills that translate cleanly to professional schemes. His steady development under the Penn State special teams staff prepared him for an NFL opportunity, even as he went undrafted in the 2020 NFL Draft.
Blake Gillikin Career
Early Career (2020)
Blake Thomas Gillikin signed with the New Orleans Saints as an undrafted free agent on April 27, 2020, beginning his professional career in the NFC South. His initial season was disrupted when he was placed on injured reserve on September 9, limiting his rookie-year development. Despite the setback, Gillikin continued to refine his craft within the Saints’ special teams program.
The Saints saw enough in his training-camp work to plan around his long-term role. Following the 2020 campaign, the organization continued investing in his development, setting the stage for a larger opportunity the following season.
New Orleans Saints Era (2021–2022)
Gillikin was named the Saints’ starting punter for the 2021 season after the team released longtime starter Thomas Morstead during the offseason. Stepping into one of the league’s most demanding punting roles, Gillikin delivered consistent placement and solid distance in the Superdome’s controlled environment. He handled all kicking-game directional duties, helping New Orleans manage field position against high-powered NFC opponents.
Following the 2022 season, Gillikin did not receive a qualifying offer and became a free agent on March 15, 2023. He re-signed with the Saints on March 16, but was waived on August 29 after losing the punting competition to Lou Hedley. His three-year Saints tenure produced the foundation of his NFL resume.
Arizona Cardinals Era (2023–Present)
On October 3, 2023, Gillikin was signed by the Arizona Cardinals, joining the NFC West franchise midseason. He quickly assumed starting duties and brought stability to a Cardinals special teams unit that had been searching for consistency. By the end of his first full season in Arizona, he had established himself as a key piece of the team’s field-position game.
In Week 9 of the 2024 season, Gillikin punted four times with three inside the 20-yard line in a 29-9 win over the Chicago Bears, earning NFC Special Teams Player of the Week. The performance highlighted his precision and his growing chemistry with the Cardinals’ coverage units. On October 11, 2025, Gillikin was placed on injured reserve due to a lingering back injury. On March 8, 2026, Gillikin re-signed with the Cardinals on a one-year contract, signaling the franchise’s continued faith in his abilities.
Driving Style and Strengths
Gillikin’s game is built on directional accuracy rather than raw distance, with a particular emphasis on pinning opponents inside the 20-yard line. His long punt of 77 yards shows he can also flip the field when required. Coaches value his poise in pressure situations and his ability to adjust placement based on wind and field position.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Gillikin’s signature moments are his 2015 Georgia high school state championship, his 2017 Second-team All-Big Ten selection at Penn State, and his 2024 NFC Special Teams Player of the Week award. He is also second in NFL history in yards per punt at 48.46, a mark that reflects his career-long consistency.
Blake Gillikin Career Wins
Across his NFL career, Blake Thomas Gillikin has built a résumé anchored by consistent field-position contributions rather than win-loss statistics typical of position players. His career NFL totals include 271 punts for 13,132 yards, with 99 punts downed inside the 20 and a longest punt of 77 yards.
Arizona Cardinals Highlights
Since joining Arizona in 2023, Gillikin has served as the Cardinals’ primary punter and earned weekly conference recognition for his directional work. His 2024 campaign included the Player of the Week honor following the win over Chicago. The Cardinals’ decision to re-sign him in March 2026 reflects his ongoing role in the team’s special teams plans.
Other Wins & Performances
At Penn State, Gillikin was a four-year starter and ranks No. 2 on the program’s career punting average chart at 43.03 yards per punt. He landed 53 career punts inside the opponent’s 10-yard line and is the only player in Nittany Lions history with seven punts of 65 or more yards. In 2019, he earned All-Big Ten honorable mention and CoSIDA Academic All-American first-team honors.
Blake Gillikin Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public details about Blake Thomas Gillikin’s immediate family remain limited in widely available sources. He is a native of the Atlanta metropolitan area, having grown up in Smyrna, Georgia, before moving on to college and professional football.
Personal Life
Gillikin came through the Penn State academic program while serving as a four-year starter, earning CoSIDA Academic All-American first-team recognition in 2019. He continues to reside in the United States and remains active on social media, where he shares updates about his training and his Arizona Cardinals career.
2025 Season Performance
Blake Thomas Gillikin entered the 2025 season as the Arizona Cardinals’ starting punter, looking to build on his strong 2024 finish. Through the early weeks, he continued his pattern of directional punting and strong inside-the-20 placement, contributing to a Cardinals special teams unit that emphasized field position. His prior chemistry with the coverage group remained a stabilizer for the coaching staff.
On October 11, 2025, Gillikin was placed on injured reserve due to a lingering back injury, pausing his 2025 campaign. The Cardinals’ special teams plans adjusted around his absence while he recovered.
Looking forward, Gillikin’s one-year re-signing on March 8, 2026, signals that the franchise views him as a core piece of its special teams outlook. His career 48.46 yards-per-punt average ranks among the all-time NFL leaders and provides a foundation for continued production in the NFC West.
